Is Milwaukee Ready for an Aerotropolis? (What’s an Aerotropolis)?

Tom Rave, Executive Director of The Gateway To Milwaukee, will talk about the evolution of The Gateway and its role in leading the exploration and development of a new type of urban development called an “aerotropolis”. An aerotropolis reflects the interaction of airport-centered commerce, real-estate development and multi-modal transportation shaped by contemporary financial, marketing and strategic management processes.

The Gateway To Milwaukee is the brand name for an area around General Mitchell International Airport plus for three organizations, the lead one of which is the Airport Gateway Business Association (AGBA). Mr. Rave has been the Executive Director of AGBA since May, 2008 and was a director for the prior nine months. The other two organizations are Airport Gateway Business Improvement District #40 in Milwaukee and Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corporation, both of which are managed by AGBA.

The Gateway’s role is to improve the vitality in the aerotropolis footprint by actively impacting government direction, enhancing the area through security and beautification, marketing the area for economic development and creating mutually beneficial networking opportunities for businesses in The Gateway.

Mr. Rave’s previous career for 38 years in Milwaukee was with three banking companies, First Wisconsin/Firstar Banks, Norwest/Wells Fargo Banks and Tri City National Bank. Most of the assignments having were as an account officer and division head/manager in commercial banking, including one stint resolving “problem loans” to troubled organizations. Other functions during those years included training young bankers, private banking, business development for senior and subordinated debt in leveraged transactions, managing cash management and payroll processing businesses, systems development as a user, marketing and strategic planning.

The education of Mr. Rave resulted in an MBA from University of Wisconsin – Whitewater in 1980, a BS with psychology as a major from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH in 1967 and advanced studies in clinical psychology at the University of Florida and Loyola University in Chicago.

Related current involvements of Mr. Rave are:

• Steering Committee chair of the Coalition for Advancing Transit in Southeast Wisconsin
• Participant and Milwaukee Mark Subcommittee chair on the Milwaukee Image & Perception Task Force
• Ex officio director of Greater Milwaukee Hotel & Lodging Association

Location:

UWM Campus
AUP 345